Starbucks Encounters Largest Strike as 120 Locations Cease Operations

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Starbucks is facing its most significant labor conflict yet as a rapidly increasing strike engages over 120 locations across 85 US cities, coinciding with the peak holiday season.

The walkout initiated on November 13, during the Red Cup Day event, where employees protested at 65 outlets. This initial act of visibility evolved into a nationwide disruption aligned with Black Friday—a critical shopping period for the coffee chain. Such timing raises the stakes, as heavy customer traffic and seasonal promotions typically result in some of Starbucks’ highest weekly earnings.

Although the company asserts that 99% of its US stores continue to operate, the escalating strike is testing its capacity to ensure smooth functioning. Workers affiliated with Workers United, representing over 11,000 baristas nationwide, are advocating for improved wages, better staffing, and resolutions to countless outstanding grievances concerning scheduling and workplace treatment.

This turmoil is part of a broader trend of holiday-season labor actions occurring in global retail and logistics hubs. On the same day as the Starbucks protests, Amazon employees in Germany took to the streets, while Zara staff in Spain rallied for enhanced working conditions, illustrating a wider movement of coordinated pressure during high-demand shopping periods.

The mounting unrest comes at a critical juncture for Starbucks. The company is amidst a revitalization strategy aimed at enhancing service speed and winning back customer loyalty. Its recently broadened Green Apron Service initiative—designed to increase labor hours, alter store hours, and bolster staffing—has exhibited early indicators of performance improvement. In the last quarter, global comparable sales saw a 1% rise, ending a long-standing decline, with transaction growth persisting into October.

Yet, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges. Escalating operational costs, inflation, and increasing labor expenses are already impacting profit margins. An extended labor dispute could further complicate efforts as the company aims to stabilize before its first-quarter 2026 earnings report in January.

For the moment, both parties seem entrenched in their positions, as the holiday season looms over a dispute showing no quick resolution.